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While Kings wait on Doughty, their goaltending looks way more than solid

San Jose Sharks v Los Angeles Kings - Game Three

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings leads the team on to the ice prior to game three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the San Jose Sharks during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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The Los Angeles Kings’ training camp is being dominated by talk about how negotiations are going (or aren’t) between GM Dean Lombardi and restricted free agent Drew Doughty. The off-ice stuff is frustrating to read about for Kings fans especially since both sides seem to be dug in for a battle, but on the ice there’s a part of the game the Kings won’t have to sweat at all.

Los Angeles’ strength this year will come from having two strong balanced scoring lines and the ability to play tough hockey, but what makes them a threat to go deep in the playoffs and take aim on the Stanley Cup finals is their arrangement in goal. With Jonathan Quick set to be the starter and forever young potential future star Jonathan Bernier backing him up, the Kings aren’t likely to have many off nights from the goalie position.

Kings coach Terry Murray says that while Quick comes in as the number one guy, he won’t hesitate to ride the hot hand during the year when it comes right down to it. L.A. Kings Insider’s Rich Hammond finds out from Murray that goaltending is one position where the Kings have a wealth of riches.

“I have one No. 1 goaltender. Jonathan Quick is the No. 1 goaltender. Jonathan Bernier is a goaltender in waiting. I was real happy with his second half of the year. He played some huge games. In fact, I think he got points in every game that he played after the All-Star break. He’s starting to get his feel in the NHL. He’s moving in the right direction, understanding the shooters and the pace of the game now. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens, but Jonathan Quick is our No. 1 guy.

“Last year, at this time, I had looked at the schedule and penciled in the goaltenders until Christmas. `This is the game you’re going to get.’ I didn’t identify those, sitting down with the goaltenders and talking about it, but I followed my plan. I didn’t do that this year. I think I pigeonholed myself a little bit. I want to get away from that. I’m going in with a plan to play both goaltenders. They’re both, I know, going to be real competitive. They all want to play every night. So we’ll just take it from there and play the games.”


It’s not a bad spot for a coach to be in to have two outstanding goalies on the roster and for the Kings, both Quick and Bernier are young guys. Quick is 25 while Bernier is 23 years-old and while Quick didn’t come with the sky high expectations being a third round pick in 2005 out of UMass that Bernier did as a first round pick in 2006, Quick’s play last year put him on the map as one of the best goalies in the Western Conference.

Having two great goalies can work well but the pressure is on Murray to be able to practically and correctly manage their play. Having two great goalies didn’t hurt the Bruins last year and Tim Thomas’ great play made sure he kept playing for most of the season. Having Tuukka Rask there to help out when Thomas needed a breather made it easier for the Bruins to keep rolling.

For Quick, getting played a lot two seasons ago playing in 72 games clearly affected how he played in the playoffs. Last season, Quick played in 61 games and looked stronger in losing in six games to San Jose including a shutout in Game 2. Quick also had his best regular season as a pro.

If Murray can get that rotation working and have both goalies be top stoppers when they’re in, the Kings are going to be awfully tough to beat whether they’ve got Drew Doughty there from the get-go or not.